Toothpick



(No Mmm.) H. T. TISSINGTON.

TOOTHPIGK.

170,577,468. Patentedreb. 2s, 1897.

UNITED 4STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRYV T. TISSINGTON, OF ASPEN, COLORADO.

TOOTH PICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,468, dated February 23, 1897.

Application filed August 13, 1896. Serial No. 602,685. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY T. TIssINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toothpicks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in toothpicks of that class comprising a metallic body portion with arms and a string or band secured thereto and bridging the same. The novelty resides in the peculiarities of construction, as will be hereinafter described, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure lis a perspective view of my improvement. same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both views.

In carrying out my invention I take a piece of suitable material, as wire, of any suitable diameter and of a length required to make a toothpick of the desired size. This is bent to form the two curved arms a, which terminate in closed eyes b, or the eyes may be formed by vflattening the wire at the ends of .these arms and forming holes in the flattened portions of the wire, or the device may be made of hat material, in which the holes may be formed. The wire is twisted together to form the handle portion B, which may be of any desired length. The twisting of the wire Fig. 2 is a section through the,

not only adds strength, but it gives a better hold, so that the device will not slip in the hand when in use.

C is a thread or piece of dental iloss or any other material passed through the openings in the ends of the arms and secured to the twisted handle at a point beyond the junction thereof with the U-shaped portion.

The manner of use will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, and a further detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary.

It will be observed upon reference to the drawings that the wire of which the device is formed and which is bent at its center has such portion drawn out and pointed to form a metal pick, which will be found useful in positions where the filament C cannot be used.

What is claimed as new is- As an improved article of manufacture, the toothpick herein described, formed of a single piece of metal bent at its center and elongated and sharpened to form a point and twisted from its point to form a straight handle, the material branching from the end of said handle forming a substantially U -shaped portion with the ends of the material bent to form eyes, and a thread passed through said eyes and having its ends twisted about and secured to the twisted handle at the point beyond the junction thereof with the U-shaped portion, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

` HENRY T. TISSINGTON. Vitnesses:

ORIN S. MOORE, L. W. DINGLE. 

